Take Her to HeVan (Nephilim Book 6) (31 page)

*****

Loading into the available vehicles, a large group headed out to search the building where Sara had seen a man carrying a woman over his shoulder. All of them were saying prayers to the Goddess that this time they would find her. Many of them also prayed they would find her alive. All of them vowed to give Karlo and Charl whatever support they needed. The long hours of the night without a positive result had discouraged them.

They drove through the streets with a sense of urgency. They reached the address Jural had given them, with the various cars and trucks parked haphazardly in front of the building. On the way over they had planned the fastest way to search the entire building from top to bottom.

All their plans went to hell when they heard the scream. Rushing, they paid no attention to the rickety stairs, and the scream gained in intensity. Hearts in their throats, Karlo and Charl hit the closed door in the hall together and burst in on a nightmare.

The pounding on the floor was causing a vibration and the alarm clock was shifting off its platform. When the door burst open, it started to fall. Charl, taking in the sight at a glance, acted swiftly, knocking the tripod into the wall. The only victim of the blast was a rat climbing down from the ceiling.

Karlo kicked aside another of the rodents as he rushed to Marla’s side.

It took Marla a moment to understand that rescue had come and she could stop her terrified screams. Many of the other warriors crowded into the room to see if there was some other reason the screams persisted. When they noted her state of undress and her bruising, they gave her and her
Ankida
the privacy of their turned backs.

“Don’t let them bite me. Please don’t let them bite me,” Marla begged, tears streaming down her face. The men instantly understood and ruthlessly killed every rat they could see.

Karlo knelt on the floor and started to work on her bonds. He was half afraid to touch her, she was so bruised.

“Markus!” shouted Charl, wanting her to be cared for as soon as possible.

As soon as the room was clear of vermin, the warriors left her in the care of the healer and her
Ankida
. One carefully gathered the evidence of what had been meant to be the author of her assassination.

Her bonds released, she tried to bring her arms forward and new pain erupted in her shoulders. “Oh God, it hurts,” she cried out. When she saw how her pain affected Karlo and Charl, she tried ignore it and pretend she was fine. Both of her men would happily have taken her wounds on themselves ten times over than for her to feel the pain.

“Okay, okay, I’m going to be fine now. You got here and rescued me, just like I knew you would. If you were a little slower than I would have liked, well
—
I won’t complain, ouch! Because you did get here before I got a hole blasted through me and even more importantly, you got here before those nasty, rabies-carrying, beady eyed, absolutely no-good-for-anything rats could bite me.”

She was babbling and she knew it. She was trying to get that murderous look from her men’s eyes.

She had plans for the next few years and they didn’t include visiting her guys in prison for killing Jake.

“Not exactly the best bachelorette party I’ve ever been to. At least you rescued me in time for our wedding this afternoon. Markus, got any good drugs in that case, hon? I could really use some.”

“Marla, I want to hold you in my arms and I’m terrified if I do I’ll cause you more pain,” said Karlo.

As soon as Markus finished examining Marla and gave her something for the pain, Karlo whipped off his button down shirt and carefully laid it over her chest, the sides going over her shoulders.

Then Karlo and Charl got on either side of her and making a chair with their arms, they carefully lifted her up. She might have thought she was going to the hotel, but she was going straight to a hospital.

When she exited the building into the bright sun, a roar went up among the warriors honoring her. They put her into the back seat of Gary’s crew cab, because it was large enough for Karlo and Charl to sit on either side of her. She couldn’t wear a seat belt, so they asked Gary to drive with care to the hospital.

“I don’t need to go to the hospital, I’m just bruised,” she said.

“Markus wants you to get x-rayed. He thinks you may have some broken ribs. We aren’t going to take chances with your health, Marla,” said Charl.

Before she could say anything, Karlo put in his two cents. “Please don’t argue, Marla; we need to know you are well. It’s important for us to know you are getting the best care.”

Marla thought about what they were saying, and what they weren’t saying. She also figured if they were at the hospital with her, that they wouldn’t be off killing Jake O’Brien.

“Okay. I’ll agree to going to the hospital, but I have conditions. First, you both need to stay with me. I want Becky and her tablet computer there too. Finally, I want that alarm clock. You give me all that, and I won’t cause a fuss about the hospital.”

Karlo and Charl agreed right away to her terms. They knew what she was doing, and they were perfectly willing to let the Earth authorities deal with Jake O’Brien. If the Earth authorities failed, then they would step in. No one would ever find the body.

*****

At two o’clock, when Marla was supposed to be getting married in the banquet room in downtown Boulder, Jake O’Brien was giving a toast to his guests. He had thrown an impromptu barbeque to celebrate the expansion of his ranch. In attendance were the mayor and several of the town Aldermen and their wives.

Deputy Sheriff Tucker was a gatecrasher at the party but Jake was willing to let him have a steak. “Pull up a chair, Deputy, there’s plenty to go around,” he said with a wide smile.

“I understand congratulations are in order?” asked Jim.

“Yes, I’ve been planning this expansion for a long time. We all love our steaks, so expanding my cattle operation seemed a good idea,” Jake said, mildly causing more than one guest to chuckle.

“Well, that’s fine. I have someone else who has a message for you. Let me play it for you,” Jim said.

Pulling out his cell phone, he went to the email app and opened the second email he’d received that morning from Marla Jones.

All the blood left Jake’s face when he saw Marla’s face on the video. She was holding up a madly wiggling alarm clock.

“Time’s up, asshole, enjoy prison.”

Deputy Sheriff Tucker pulled out his handcuffs and started the arrest procedure, reading Jake his rights. He seemed to be totally subdued. Then when the cuffs snapped into place, he went rigid.

“No, don’t you see? She was in the way. She shouldn’t have disrespected me. The fat cow deserves to be dead; the land is mine.”

His gaze move frantically from guest to guest looking for agreement and finding only condemnation.

*****

Back in the hospital, Becky put down the tablet and hit send. When she was finished, she gave Marla a big smile.

“That ought to frost his cookies. I like your style,” said Becky.

“I only wish we could still have the wedding. By the time the doctor releases me, it will be too late. And you guys spent all night looking for me. You must be exhausted. Still, I’m alive and really
—
that can’t be discounted too much.”

“Well, we can still have a party. The guys know this great club in Denver and the limo drivers are in. So what do you say we have a redo, except this time we all party together instead of apart?” Becky asked.

“I’d love to, Becky, but I’m kind of sore. I don’t think I can wear clothes, let alone put on a bra. I think I need some couch time with a couple of ice packs.”

“Don’t worry about that. Since the police have taken all their evidence photos and everything, Markus can work a little more magic on you. You won’t be fully healed, but you will be able to go out. So what do you say? Are you willing to try?” asked Becky.

“Absolutely, I need a do-over. Then tomorrow morning, we’ll head over to the courthouse and see if the judge can fit us in.”

“Alright, just relax and Tammy and I will set everything up.”

They arrived back at the hotel and Marla had been given a medical treatment from Markus. He told her the swelling was reduced, along with most of the pain, because he’d healed the deep tissues. He hadn’t taken away the surface bruising in case the police returned to interview her. She was bummed about that but really happy the worst of the pain was gone. Every time she winced, Karlo or Charl would wince too.

An hour before they were supposed to leave, Chuck, one of the guys from the bar who helped them search, appeared at the door to her hotel room.

“Hi, sweetie
—
oh, just look at your poor face! Well, don’t despair, Chuck is here,” he said holding up an enormous make-up case. “Luckily for you, today is Monday so my salon is closed. I’m here to give you the full treatment, hair, make-up, manicure, and pedicure. By the time I’m done, you’ll look and feel like a princess.”

“Really? Oh wow, thank you so much. Every time Karlo or Charl look at me, they see the bruises and get this sad look in their eyes. They really did everything they could to find me and they
did
find me in time. I want them to be happy again.”

Chuck knew he’d made the right decision to help this woman. After everything she’d been through, she was still worried about her guys; and wasn’t that a kick? She was getting two of those hunks. He tried not to be jealous as he went to work.

“So tell me, sweetie, do they have any gay cousins you could introduce me to?” Chuck asked, making her laugh.

She got her second surprise, one that brought tears of happiness to her eyes, when she saw what her friends had done. Brad took the overpayment Markus had given him and rented the bar for the night. Then he and his friends
—
Gary, Chuck and the others
—
went to town. Between them, they had a salon owner, a florist, a landscaper, a waiter, and a chef. Marla had missed her wedding; they were going to make sure she got one.

The women and their
Ankida
spent the afternoon helping to decorate. Of course, none of the men let the women lift a finger, let alone a centerpiece. They were lucky if they got to straighten a tablecloth. But the women weren’t allowed to sit at the hotel, their
Ankida
wanted them close.

“Okay, let’s get this wedding done so we can party,” said Becky when Marla arrived.

“Wedding? Oh, my gosh! I can’t believe you all did this for me. You said wedding? Did the judge come, too?” Marla asked.

“We don’t need him. As of this afternoon, I’m ordained to perform weddings in the State of Colorado. In fact, from my research, you don’t need a judge or a minister; you can marry yourselves. But this will be more fun. I’m going to go stand over there on the dance floor and you guys can walk up and take your places,” said Becky, just before she turned to waddle adorably over to the stage.

Marla turned and took Karlo’s hand. Then, instead of moving forward, she turned to her other side and took Charl’s hand.

“If the judge isn’t here, we can have the wedding the way we want it. I know only Karlo’s name can go down on the certificate, but I’m still marrying both of you.”

The three of them walked together, passing between two ornamental shrubs before stepping up onto the stage.

“We are gathered here to join this woman with these two men in matrimony,” Becky said in an exaggerated deep voice. Then with a grin, she spoke in her normal voice. “We’re going to make this fast; pregnant bladders are present. You’ve all proven you can hang together through the bad stuff. Do you promise to stick around for all of the good stuff, too? Rich, poor, sickness, good health, and swollen ankles? Do you all promise not to go to bed angry unless it’s to have amazing three-way make-up sex? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and respect each other? Do you promise not to gang up on the lone female unless it’s to give her multiple O’s?” Becky asked.

She waited for a response. “Well?”

“I promise,” said Marla, giggling through her words. Somehow, this irreverent service was just what she needed to blow away the lingering residue of her captivity.

“I also promise,” said Karlo and then Charl.

“Good, then I now pronounce you husbands and wife. We’ll get around to signing the wedding certificate in just a bit. First, I need to run to the pregnant-with-twins room,” said Becky, before she left them to dash off the stage. Three other women got up and followed her out of the room.

When Marla, Karlo, and Charl turned to face the crowd, a roaring cheer went up. Brad came up and escorted them to their table.

“Let the wedding reception begin!” Brad said.

At one point, Gary walked over to where Markus was standing and talking to a couple of guys.

“Hey, Markus, I don’t see Jural here. Didn’t he want to come?”

“He refused to leave the mother and children he rescued without protection. He and two others stayed behind. I understand they are ordering room service and learning how to play Chutes and Ladders. Would you like me to give him a message?” asked Markus.

“No, I actually forgot about the woman we helped, what with everything else going on. Is she going to be okay?” asked Gary.